Influence of Industrial and Abattoir Wastes on Some Physicochemical and Bacteriological Variables of Aba River Nigeria

Abstract

The Aba River in Abia State Nigeria was investigated to determine the influence of industrial and abattoir wastes on some physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics of the system for its monitoring. The study was carried out in the wet season month of June, 2012 and standard methods were adopted for field and laboratory studies. The parameters analyzed from water samples were as follows: Nitrate, Phosphate, Conductivity, Salinity, pH, Iron, Calcium hardness, Magnesium hardness, Copper, Ammonia, Calcium, Magnesium, Turbidity, Chloride, Sulphate, Alkalinity, Nitrate- Nitrogen, Manganese, Dissolved Oxygen, BOD, Total Suspended Solid, Detergents, Oil and Grease, COD, Feacal Coliform, Total Coliform and Total Hetrotrophic count. The comparison of the result with WHO standard showed that Nitrate, TDS, TSS, Copper, Iron, Feacal and Total Coliform counts exceeded the allowable limits especially at the Nigerian breweries. This may limit growth and lead to the death of many aquatic life forms or make the fish to migrate to more habitable zones. The abattoir station is slightly acidic (pH = 5.9) showing organic pollution and elevated values of coliform indicate feacal contamination. The low value of BOD showed that at wet season the increased volume of water apparently diluted the concentration of industrial and abattoir wastes. The Aba River is grossly polluted by the industrial activities and cannot be used in this form for any domestic purpose without treatment.

KEY WORDS: Aba River, Physicochemical, Bacteriological, Parameter.